CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2nd generation Sorento (2011-2014) has just too many engine problems at early mileage, year after year.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 25
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
56,147 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2014 Kia Sorento engine problems

engine problem

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2014 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 5 of 18)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #271

May 272023

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Unknown. I was driving on the highway and the engine just shut off. When I tried to start it I could not. Tried to jumpstart but still would not start. I had it towed to my mechanic and he advised that the engine seized and there is a recall for this. Recall #SC 147.

- North Lauderdale, FL, USA

problem #270

May 222023

Sorento

  • miles
Knocking Sensor Detection. Loud knocking noise associated with flashing check engine light.

- Lenoir, NC, USA

problem #269

May 082023

Sorento

  • miles
On 5/8/2023 I was driving on the freeway going about 70 to 75 MPH. All of a sudden the car stopped accelerating and the engine just stopped working. I costed somehow to the side of the freeway until a tow truck could arrive. There was no warning, until this happened. Car was running perfect up to this point. By the grace of God, I wasn't hit and no one was hurt. I honestly thought I was going to die and or take others with me. There was quite a bit of traffic and everyone had to swerve out of the way to avoid hitting me. This is a 2014 Kia Sorento that has been well cared for with 140K miles. Now I have no car. Being told I need a new engine that could cost up to $ 10K. This car is not worth that much.

- Newbury Park , CA, USA

problem #268

May 072023

Sorento 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 91,089 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact-??s son owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while his son was driving 65 MPH, the vehicle shuddered, and the engine seized. The check engine and the low oil pressure warning lights were illuminated. The contact-??s son was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 91,089.

- Andover, KS, USA

problem #267

May 052023

Sorento

  • miles
The engine seized up. The issue may be due to a design problem with all Kia engines. Here's what the service technician at the Kia dealership told me: 1) There is a pin on the cam shaft that keeps it in place; 2) Over time it moves, and gets sheared off; 3) When the pin is sheared off, the cam shaft spins out of time; 4) That causes the valves to slam into the pistons and bends the valves; 5) After the valves are bent, the engine has no compression; 6) The engine needs to be replaced or the car needs to be junked. The service tech says he had seen it happen quite a bit with all Kia models. In other words, it's a design flaw. There are other ways to keep the cam shaft in place, which are used by other manufacturers.

- Ocean View, DE, USA

problem #266

Apr 132023

Sorento

  • miles
In December of 2020 my vehicle stalled in the middle of turning. I lost all power and was not able to accelerate. After a tow to my mechanic no reason could be found and vehicle started and ran fine. No check engine or codes displayed. Then in July of 2021 same issue happened. I again had it towed to my mechanic who said it could be the timing but referred me over to my local dealership. At the dealership I was told it was the timing and spent over $4,000 to replace. Two days after picking my vehicle up there was oil all over my garage. Another trip to the dealer where they stated it was a faulty crankshaft seal and no big deal. A month later and I was still having issues. Prior to the work done by KIA I never had oil consumption issues. I was then told to do a combustion clean out which I did. Since then I have been dumping oil into the vehicle. fast forward to April of 2023. While on the interstate the vehicle began to shake and lost all power. After a very expensive tow home and to the dealer the diagnosis was engine failure that they are unable to tell from where specifically and again no check engine or codes displayed. I was quoted $10,000 for an engine replacement for a vehicle I still owed 4,500 on and is not worth as much as the engine

- Racine, WI, USA

problem #265

Apr 142023

Sorento

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was driving my kia sorrento and check engine light came car was acting as if it wasn't getting any gas took to autozone came bk with 2 codes and pulled out and my car basically powered down in the middle of the street a car almost ran into me...the police had to push my car down a waze so no one would hit me, my car won't start..battery was at good percentage...took it to the shop replaced starter and still nothing won't start..they figured out testing that engine was done for

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #264

Dec 282022

Sorento 6-cyl

  • miles
Engine overheated with no warning, Heater failed, Coolant wouldn't go through the system, replaced the T-stat, and it still continued to overheat with no warning or indication. I was driving with my 2.5year old in the middle of a busy street during the evening. Took it to a repair shop and was told they found coolant in the combustion chamber, and failed head gasket. They had to R7R both cylinder heads, replace the head gaskets, head bolts, t-stat, crank seal, oil pan gasket, timing cover gaskets and seals, Fuel injector - o - rings, fuel seals, fuel pump. They had to rethread and repair the bolts because they stripped. This was all fixed after i had to pay, $7,000. There was no warning lamps messages except for the 1 time overheating.

- Castro Valley, CA, USA

problem #263

Apr 032023

Sorento

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine. While accelerating, the knocking sound became louder. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was informed that the engine might have seized. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no additional assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

- Sanford, FL, USA

problem #262

Oct 242020

Sorento 6-cyl

  • miles
Hi, I'm dealing with my Kia Sorento SX 2014, rpm and acceleration problems, for over two long years, sometimes shut off itself, some times codes shows up but no all the time, already changed spark plugs, High pressure fuel pump and the connector, two injectors, starter, MAP sensor, etc. My mechanic tell me today that I need to change the wiring harness, so everything is just guessing and spending crazy money, also the dealer don't know the exactly is the problem, already two years with this frustration and still don't know what to do, please I really need a very professional advice in this incredible situation, some of the codes that shows up, if I'm lucky are: P0087, P0506, P2096, P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0305, P0306, P0133, P0137 and so... but right now all of these disappeared, I read in the NHTSA web site about the problems with engine and electric components reported with this car in this specific year and I'm really worry about my family and my safety while I'm driving this vehicle, please, please, please... I already went to many different mechanic experts (Including the Kia dealership) and still nobody knows what's producing this lack of acceleration in the engine at the time of starting and its subsequent shutdown. Odometer: 200,000 km Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Brampton, NJ, USA

problem #261

Mar 212023

Sorento 4-cyl

  • 106,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle decelerated independently, and then failed to respond with the accelerator pedal depressed. The contact veered to the side of the road, and the engine started shaking and knocking. Additionally, the check engine and oil level warning lights remained illuminated. The vehicle was unable to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the crank shaft sensor needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the knocking sound persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

- Warner Robins, GA, USA

problem #260

Mar 172023

Sorento

  • miles
Doing speed limit of 70 lost power for no reason had 3 mo left 500 minutes from home on vacation towed home thank God was able to get off the free way.Tried getting Kia to fix said since it was 3.3 engine not 4 cylinder the couldn't fix it.same problem metal in oil and on dip stick see now 2017 3.3 same problem someone going to get hurt or worse now I need a lawyer.left no car and disabled

- Manchester , MD, USA

problem #259

Feb 152023

Sorento

  • miles
I experienced a deceleration when I stepped on the gas pedal to accelerate on the interstate. I was going 65mph at the time. The emission control warning light came on so I pulled off the next exit and called the Kia dealer. I turned around and headed back to take it in for diagnostic service and repair when it started making noises so I pulled off onto an exit and the engine stopped shortly afterwards. I could turn the engine on but it would not go so I called AAA to have it towed to the dealer. The steering was difficult as well. The dealer said the engine needed to be replaced and the clock spring needed to be replaced (air bag warning light was on). This experience was dangerous and I was fortunate not to be in heavy traffic and in an area where there was a safe enough place to pull over. The car had 132,000 mi on it. The engine was replaced with a rebuilt 2014 engine but now the emissions control light just came on - not even a month has passed since replacement. I will take it in tomorrow for a diagnostic.

- Gaithersburg, MD, USA

problem #258

May 042022

Sorento

  • miles
While I was driving on the highway, my engine suffered a catastrophic failure without any warning. Luckily I was close enough to an exit so I was able to pull off to safety. When I stopped, fluids gushed out of the engine compartment and there was white smoke everywhere. One of the hoses to the engine had completely ruptured. I had the vehicle towed and have had it looked at by three different mechanics who came to the same conclusion - that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced, but they couldn't figure out what caused the failure.

- St Cloud, FL, USA

problem #257

Feb 092023

Sorento

  • miles
The car has 107,000 miles on it, and has recently started making a strange noise and it died on 2 separate occasions. I took it to a mechanic, who thought it might need a new engine. I did a little online research and all of these engine problems for Kia Sorento's popped up. I took it to a Kia dealership, to get their view on it. They confirmed it needs a new engine, but that they don't know why. I have changed the oil regularly, and maintained the vehicle properly and I don't know how a car with that few of miles on it can need a new engine, without having an underlying issue.

- Plano, IL, USA

problem #256

Feb 032023

Sorento

  • miles
Engine stalling. While driving to work about 45 minutes away my 2014 Kia Sorento stalled at a light. I put it in park, and it started right up. Coming home from work it stalled again after coming off the bridge in my town along with the check engine light on. Tried to start it and it would start and then stall and was idling really rough. Had it towed to my mechanic he said it was the VVT sensor according to the codes and that I had very little oil. My oil light would also come on way before the time to have the oil changed. He did an oil change and fixed the sensor $140 later after picking it up it stalled again on me 6 times. Left it at the mechanic again. $191 same codes told me the sensors in the engine had a lot of metal on them. They cleaned the sensors the drove my car for 20 miles no issues. Took my car to work the next day again 45 minutes away from home and it stalled again in the middle of the highway. Had it towed back to the mechanic which cost me $245 because with AAA I was already over the allowed miles and tows. If this car needs a new engine, I am not replacing it. Never again buying a Kia!! When I first bought the car a few years later I had received a recall notice about the engine and supposedly the dealership fixed the issue. I really don't think they did anything. Needless to say, I have already spent $450 on this car in a matter of 2 weeks. Let's see how much this last repair will be because it will be the last time I fix it. I will not be replacing the engine on this car. I can't afford that or to buy a new car at this time.

- Somerset, MA, USA

problem #255

Nov 282022

Sorento

  • miles
Engine locked up while driving. It just stalled when in motion. Now the engine will not turn over. Mechanic says it has to be replaced.

- Ball, LA, USA

problem #254

Feb 112023

Sorento 4-cyl

  • miles
Vehicle engine shut down while I was driving on the highway situation was very dangerous other vehicles had to take evasive maneuvers in order not to collide with me I was very scared as I had my grand children with me the vehicle is currently at auto nation in keennesses Georgia it is available for inspection there were no warnings or other indications

- Stone Mountain, GA, USA

problem #253

Feb 112023

Sorento

  • 135,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard a knocking sound coming from the engine. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that an unknown fractured part failed; however, the contact stated that the diagnoses was incomplete. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacture was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

- Punta Gorda, FL, USA

problem #252

Feb 092023

Sorento

  • 75,120 miles
The oil light started to turn on and I still had 2000 miles to go to my next oil change. When we checked, we had no oil in the pan and had to add our own oil. I went to Kia Willowbrook dealership to file a complaint and get my oil changed. I was told that Kia will not do anything for oil consumption or engine replacement unless the engine seizes or stops working. This is telling me that I need to wait until my family is injured in a car accident when my car fails or my car starts on fire in order for Kia to do anything. I was also told, that I will need to get oil changes more frequently. That is the workaround. When I asked if an oil consumption test can be done, I was told that it will not help. This car is a safety risk to myself, my family and the public on the road if this is the advice I am getting from Kia.

- Lemont, IL, USA

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